Women in Charge - Seeing is Believing

28/07/2016 12:03 BST
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Updated
28/07/2017 10:12 BST

"Stop telling girls that they can be anything they want when they grow up. I think it's a mistake. Not because they can't, but because it would have never occurred to them they couldn't." - Sarah Silverman

We're living in interesting times, to say the least. On one hand you wouldn't be blamed for screaming in a panicked manner about the madness everywhere. On the other, if you're like me, you're quietly excited about the genders of our leading politicians.

Theresa May is our Prime Minister. I don't agree with her politics, nor am I a Conservative, but she's articulate and I'm willing to hope she's better than the outgoing gaggle of men who were so out of touch it was actually heartbreaking. Nicola Sturgeon is the First Minister of Scotland, and listening to her during the election debates last year, and throughout the 'Brexit' debates this year, she has shown herself to be a formidable opponent to whoever she's talking with. Here in Northern Ireland the DUP are still in charge, with Arlene Foster at the helm. All three women don't necessarily speak for me personally, but all three answer questions without the idiocy of certain men, ( look up Sammy Wilson's latest take on breastfeeding, or any of the backward things he's said...it'll make you cringe. And he's not in the minority - our mostly male politicians can wax on lyrically about terrorism and divisiveness, but if 'modern' things like abortion, climate change and the sexualisation of feeding your baby come into the conversation, they lose any sense of rational thought.)

Last night after 240 years, the good ol' US of A chose to put a women on the ticket for President. I like Hillary Clinton. I think she's educated and poised. Like the aforementioned three female politicians, Hillary is scrutinised and vilified without any sense of hypocrisy. 'Bitch' is usually the word used when I've asked why someone doesn't like her. The fact that she IS qualified, and HAS worked for decades in the political realm and STILL will keep fighting forward despite having to fend off not only warranted attacks on policy and past voting history, but by people who just don't want a woman in charge. It's nothing I and countless other women haven't encountered throughout our working lives. Many's a time I've sighed and had to just roll with the sexism because trying to explain why it's wrong to the very people I needed to work with would have taken too long, and I had shit to do. The thought of having to do that while the world was watching my every move makes me shout a massive NOPE.

These women are brave, and I hate having to say that because by now in 2016 the platform should have changed. It should be the norm to have a great number of women leaders, CEO'S, business owners and managers, but it's not. It's a frustratingly slow process. Still, for my 1 year old niece and all the girls who are youngsters today, they'll see what I didn't as they grow up. They'll see women in charge and know it's totally possible to do whatever their ambition wants. It's not good enough that the odds of succeeding in life is whether you have parents who push you forward. Not everyone has a group of cheerleaders supporting them - it takes time to get good at anything, and a lot of women have to do it alone before said outside support appears.

People need to see themselves reflected in roles that are different from traditional ones. Diversity is gravely required everywhere, and I believe feminism is so important to take that forward. No colour or gender bias, but one world that can bring us all to be the best people we can be. To live our best lives.

I'm not against men being in charge - I stand for equality for all - I just think that after a few hundred years of full on masculinity, it'll be really something to see what a few Boss Bitches can do.